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New Experience

annegirl

By annegirl
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

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annegirl Explorer
annegirl
Posted

I had to take a 2 week business trip to Maryland and it had me so freaked out about food that I couldn't sleep the night before I left.I took some peanut butter and quinoa crackers, lara bars and apples and oranges to make sure there was something available and the location I was at was pretty good about making safe food for me (VERY bland and dry, but safe) until 2 days before I left when I had a severe corn reaction to some kitchen cc. After that I ate only fruit because I was scared to try anything again.

So I end up at the Baltimore airport 2 days later and I am starving and there is food everywhere! I thought I would pop into a restaurant there and see if I could get a plain hamburger patty to keep me going until I got back home (Idaho, so I had an all day trip).

I told the waitress I had food allergies and wanted to know if the hamburger was seasoned at all. She asked what allergies I had and when I told her she said, "people with food allergies really shouldn't eat at restaurants." I was so angry (and hungry!) that I had to really stop myself from clobbering her. What made it worse is she did it so loudly that other people could hear her. She wouldn't go to any work to check and see if anything was safe and left me having to drag all my luggage out of the restaurant in front of everyone. I was so irritated!

Has anyone else experienced someone actually refusing them service?!? I am sure she did me a favor, but it still ticks me off.

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Diane-in-FL Explorer
Diane-in-FL
Posted

That's awful! Is it a well-known chain? If it is, you could go to their website and contact them. Let them know how rude the waitress was. Really unacceptable.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

I would have asked to speak to a MANAGER! It's the restaurants's choice wheather or not they want to serve you but no way does the waitress get to make that choice unless she owns the store or is the manager on duty. ETA: She certainly should not have said it rudely or loudly either if they could not accomodate you.

I have gone through a few travling situations like that where I had to resort to getting soda and fritos from the vending machines to tide me over. I hate eating junk and I hate that people were probably judging me for eating it (I am overweight) but at least it was not going to make me sick.

Karla01 Apprentice
Karla01
Posted

I had to take a 2 week business trip to Maryland and it had me so freaked out about food that I couldn't sleep the night before I left.I took some peanut butter and quinoa crackers, lara bars and apples and oranges to make sure there was something available and the location I was at was pretty good about making safe food for me (VERY bland and dry, but safe) until 2 days before I left when I had a severe corn reaction to some kitchen cc. After that I ate only fruit because I was scared to try anything again.

So I end up at the Baltimore airport 2 days later and I am starving and there is food everywhere! I thought I would pop into a restaurant there and see if I could get a plain hamburger patty to keep me going until I got back home (Idaho, so I had an all day trip).

I told the waitress I had food allergies and wanted to know if the hamburger was seasoned at all. She asked what allergies I had and when I told her she said, "people with food allergies really shouldn't eat at restaurants." I was so angry (and hungry!) that I had to really stop myself from clobbering her. What made it worse is she did it so loudly that other people could hear her. She wouldn't go to any work to check and see if anything was safe and left me having to drag all my luggage out of the restaurant in front of everyone. I was so irritated!

Has anyone else experienced someone actually refusing them service?!? I am sure she did me a favor, but it still ticks me off.

Oh my, that is horrible, I am afraid to eat out anywhere, I take food with me everywhere, and then I have to explain why, and people stare at you, its so embarassing. I hate it.

annegirl Explorer
annegirl
Posted
  • Author

I would have asked to speak to a MANAGER! It's the restaurants's choice wheather or not they want to serve you but no way does the waitress get to make that choice unless she owns the store or is the manager on duty. ETA: She certainly should not have said it rudely or loudly either if they could not accomodate you.

I have gone through a few travling situations like that where I had to resort to getting soda and fritos from the vending machines to tide me over. I hate eating junk and I hate that people were probably judging me for eating it (I am overweight) but at least it was not going to make me sick.

I used to do the fritos and coke thing when I had nothing else....but now corn makes me insanely sick so I can't even turn to that.

I guess I should have complained. I was just so caught off guard I didn't even think about it.

domesticactivist Collaborator
domesticactivist
Posted

That's so rude! The last time we flew was right after deciding to be gluten free. We also discovered that the airports have nothing safe to eat. :( the girl shouldn't have said that, that way - but she probably saved you some serious misery.

  • 2 weeks later...
smc Rookie
smc
Posted

Wow, that was so rude and insensitive. If they only understood what we go through sometimes. Chances are you would have gotten sick with that kind of attitiude.

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BreninMA Newbie
BreninMA
Posted

I think I would have ended up responding with "And people with rotten attitude shouldn't work in restaurants. Please go get your manager."

UGH!!!!!!

  • 2 weeks later...
mbrookes Community Regular
mbrookes
Posted

I eat out a lot and I have had only one similar experience in the three years that I have been gluten free. The waiter at a local restaurant, after I asked a couple of questions, said "I think you ought to eat somewhere else." I left and haven't been back. I'm sorry that I did not ask to speak to the owner/chef. I'm sure he would have been able to feed me and would have corrected the waiter.

jayjay57 Newbie
jayjay57
Posted

I have to add a not so funny "funny" story about dining out. Went to a new place in Omaha The Brick House, had heard they had a great gluten-free menu. Got there and no one could find the menu (people we were with had just been there with gluten sensitive father a week before)we were told by the manager on duty that it didn't really matter as there was only basically a salad on the list. She was informed by the couple, that in fact there actually was a rather long and impressive gluten free menu the week before and they thought as the manager she should have been aware of that. It must have challenged her authority because she actually asked us to leave!!!!!! We did but contacted headquarters the following day. Recieved gift certificates and ample apologies with the reassurance that the manager would be talked to and all staff be instructed to gluten free menu and policies. Tried it next time and guess what.....great menu, great knowledge by waitress, wonderful selection but when my gluten free meal came it had a non gluten free piece of bread laying right across the plate!!!! Ugh,so much for the staff gaining any knowledge. Guess the way I look at eating out now, is risk cross contamination or mistakes regardless of what they claim they are doing to ensure our safety.

rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

Yes, I've had a similar experience...and it can feel pretty demoralizing. I actually started to cry (hate to admit that!). I was just so humiliated and hurt!

It happened at a Chevy's Mexican Restaurant, and when I asked the server what I could eat, he consulted with the manager. When he returned, he told me the manager had instructed him to advise me to eat elsewhere. So, yes, there are restaurants and people employed by them that could use some education.

Jungle Rookie
Jungle
Posted

Well, money talks.

I'd leave after speaking to the manager. And point out the obvious. A gluten free meal is not a big deal. Even if they only have a salad, they can serve that politely. I wouldn't want to eat in a restaurant where I had been made to feel so unwelcome. Who knows what they'd do to the meal in the back to get back at a difficult customer. Also, I'd let the manager know that I would make sure everyone I knew knows what kind of service they can expect from this restaurant and if there is a head office that I'd be letting them know too. I don't think it would matter what head office said I wouldn't come back.

Also, I'm not very good at being quiet while discussing things I am passionate about so many of the other customers would know why I was leaving.

......because they couldn't serve me a salad with no croutons politely.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I did go into a place just to ask about gluten-free food. The manager was very nice. She told me if I have Celiac not to eat there. She said that they did not have an "allergy menu". She said that the fries should only be fried in thier special fryer but, because they don't make gluten-free or other allergy claims, no one enforces it & their main concern was it was right next to the breaded food fryer. Crumbs falling in. She also said they buy seasonings and other things and don't know all the ingredients. She also said since they were just opening she could make me something plain & safe but it was 10 am so i didn't.

My BIL has started a resturaunt & is trying to get certified for gluten-free. What she said makes sense with what he is having to go thru.

I would rather they tell me they can't do gluten-free safely than fake it. But, they could say it nicely.

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

Maybe things will change in our favor. I found Lara Bars in the airport in Missoula, Montana. I had food with me so didn't need them but was excited to see something gluten-free was available!

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